AT - Day 65
Woken at 4 a.m. by cool air, I hiked by moonlight, then flashlight into Daleville by dawn. After obtaining my maildrop at Econolodge and a buffet breakfast at Shoney’s, I climbed the rocky trail past buzzing powerlines to Hay Rock with its view of Carvin Cove Reservoir. After ups and downs, the trail offered westerly views of the valley, with hawks soaring above. The trail ducked off the ridge at Lamberts Meadow Shelter, where I got murky water from a stagnant stream, then rose to Tinker Cliffs. Up and down, up and down to McAfee Knob, with a view back. Up and down, up and down to Route 311, the road to Catawba. Mistakenly stretching the day 6 miles over a sawtooth ridge with more ups and downs, I cried tears of desperation. In the dark I descended to a cow pasture at Beckner Gap, crossed shoulder-high growth on Sandstone Ridge, and emerged from a pine-covered rise at Route 624. I walked a half-mile uphill to 4 Pines hostel at 9:30 p.m., where Joe Mitchell’s wide-eyed young son opened the door.
The best of days and the worst of days. High mileage in dry weather over demanding terrain with less daylight. Magnificent views for inspiration and a bad choice of water. Excitement, solitude, exhaustion.
In hindsight, I would reschedule Daleville as the two-thirds point in my southbound time-line, with segments of 600, 900, and 700 miles taking 33 days each. Truthfully, most hikers have had enough after 1,500 miles. Completing the remaining 700 miles may be attributed to determination.
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